What do Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali and Madonna have in common? They are all part of an exhibition of celebrity memorabilia - or at least, their leotards, gown and boxing gloves are. Gan Tian takes a walk back in time.

They are all iconic celebrity signatures that once mesmerized the world. We all remember Michael Jackson's glittering glove, while another set, the boxing gloves worn by Muhammad Ali, brings back very different memories of an era when the king of the ring "danced like a butterfly and stung like a bee".

If you happen to shop in the New World Department Store in either Beijing or Shanghai, stop by and indulge in a little nostalgia with the Super Stars' Memorable Collections Exhibition.

The exhibition, presented by the store and Macao's Ponte 16 Resort, features nearly 100 valuable items from celebrities including Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee.

Jackson fans will be thrilled to see the white rhinestone glove he wore doing the Moonwalk in 1986. The glittering glove is the main attraction and reminds visitors of his glory days on stage.

Opposite the glove is the leotard worn by Madonna in her Who's That Girl concert in 1987. In that comparatively conservative age, it showcased Madonna's bravery in her manifesto for women's rights.

A black velvet and white taffeta gown wore by Princess Diana in 1985 and a Marilyn Monroe dress from the film River of No Return are reflections of their wearers' elegance and style. And for the music fans, an autographed guitar by Elvis Presley and several stage costumes from the Beatles are reminders of those evergreen days.

Sports stars also have their places, and visitors can admire Michael Jordan's basketball, LeBron James' shoes, and Muhammad Ali's autographed boxing gloves.

To add to the atmosphere, ancillary events will include a Michael Jackson impersonation show, and a Celebrities Cosplay display in which artists will dress up and perform as Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Bruce Lee.

"Most of the exhibits were owned by private collectors. We had to knock on doors to borrow them," says Rebecca Woo, director of corporate affairs at New World Department Store China.

The exhibition will tour three more cities on the Chinese mainland: Tianjin, Shenyang and Harbin.

"After the exhibition, these items will be available for international bidding at the Legends Auction held at Ponte 16, Macao on Oct 22," says Hoffman Ma, deputy chief executive officer from Ponte 16 Resort.

You can contact the writer at gantian@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 09/18/2011 page14)